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In December 2019, a new infectious complication called CoronaVirus Infectious Disease-19, briefly COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, is identified in Wuhan, China. It spread all over the world and became a pandemic. In many individuals who had suffered SARS-COV-2 infection, cytokine storm starts through cytokine overproduction and leads to Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ARS), organ failure, and death. According to the obtained evidence, Vitamin D (VitD) enhances the ACE2/Ang(1–7)/MasR pathway activity, and it also reduces cytokine storms and the ARS risk. Therefore, VitD intake may be beneficial for patients with SARS-COV-2 infection exposed to cytokine storm but do not suffer hypotension. In the present review, we have explained the effects of VitD on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) function and angiotensin-converting enzyme2 (ACE2) expression. Furthermore, we have reviewed the biochemical and immunological effects of VitD on immune function in the underlying diseases and its role in the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was identified in Wuhan, China. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is characterized by fever, cough, dyspnea, anosmia, and myalgia in many cases. There are discussions about the association of vitamin D levels with COVID-19 severity. However, views are conflicting. The aim of the study was to examine associations of vitamin D metabolism pathway gene polymorphisms with symptomless COVID-19 susceptibility in Kazakhstan. The case-control study examined the association between asymptomatic COVID-19 and vitamin D metabolism pathway gene polymorphisms in 185 participants, who previously reported not having COVID-19, were PCR negative at the moment of data collection, and were not vaccinated. A dominant mutation in rs6127099 (CYP24A1) was found to be protective of asymptomatic COVID-19. Additionally, the G allele of rs731236 TaqI (VDR), dominant mutation in rs10877012 (CYP27B1), recessive rs1544410 BsmI (VDR), and rs7041 (GC) are worth consideration since they were statistically significant in bivariate analysis, although their independent effect was not found in the adjusted multivariate logistic regression model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), identified in Wuhan, China, on December 2019, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, on March, 2020. Since then, efforts have been gathered to describe its clinical course and to determine preventive measures and treatment strategies. Adults older than 65 years of age are more susceptible to serious clinical symptoms and present higher mortality rates. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a major receptor for some coronavirus infection, including SARS-COV-2, but is also a crucial determinant in anti-inflammation processes during the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) functioning – converting angiotensin II to angiotensin 1–7. The decline in ACE2 expression that occurs with aging has been associated to the higher morbidity and mortality rates in older adults. These observations highlight the importance of investigating the association between COVID-19 and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, i.e., Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. A possible option to reduce the risk of COVID-19 is vitamin D supplementation, due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-system-modulating effects. It has also been suggested that vitamin D supplementation plays a role in slowing progression of Parkinson and Alzheimer. The present study is a literature review of articles published on the theme COVID-19, Parkinson and Alzheimer's diseases, and the role played by vitamin D. PUBMED, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were consulted. Results confirm neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory effects of COVID-19, aggravated in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients, and the important role of vitamin D as a possible therapeutic strategy. Nevertheless, randomized controlled trials and large population studies are still warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]